Caepet-fastenee



UNITED srATEs 'PATENT orrion.

M. D. SNYDER ANI) S. A. SNYD'ER, OF CLARENDON, NEW YORK.

CARPET-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,586, dated June 28, 1859.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, M. D. SNYDEP. and S. A. SNYDER, of Clarendon, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Carpet-Hook; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, represents a side elevation. Fig. 2, is a front elevation. Fig. 3, is a view showing the Hoor and base-board in section with the hook inserted. Fig. 4, is the same with the carpet attached. Fig. 5, shows the method of withdrawing them from the lioor.

Similar letters refer to like parts in all of the figures.

As represented by the drawings our carpet hook consists of shank a which is driven into the iioor, and provided with a hook I) at right angles therewith, taking the place of the head of an ordinary tack, but of a thickness not exceeding that of the shank; and a throat or cavity c for receiving the carpet. A notch, or shoulder is also provided on the back, at (Z, and the front side or edge of the shank, c, is serrated to prevent its being drawn out by the strain of the carpet, which is often very considerable, and ioors being generally of pine or other soft wood, this accident is liable to occur. The shanks are driven vertically into the floor with the point of the hook directed to the wall at a distance therefrom convenient for attaching the carpet. The depth t0 which they should be driven is indicated by the nick, CZ, though it may vary to some eX- tent to adapt it to the thickness of the carpet, but this feature serves as a gage to secure uniformity of depth, which is essential to their effective use as well as to good appearance; the best method being to insert them all to the shoulder, and after having attached the carpet, give a light blow of the hammer to each, which sinks it a little lower, and makes the hook clench the fabric, and bind it firmly to the ioor, thereby preventing its liability to tear out. In this respect its effect is like that of a common headed tack; it binds the carpet to the Hoor by pressure, and the flat, elongated under surface of the hook affords, if the metal is of suitable thickness, an equal area of surface with the head of a carpet tack, to secure that very thicker carpet, or should it have been necessary, in the strains consequent on fitting a very tight carpet, to clench it so hard by driving that the edge could not be removed without raising the hooks. This is accomplished by placing the point of a chisel, or any suitably formed metallic instrument, at the notch, and prying it up as with a lever. This feature is of great importance in practice, as occasions are constantly occurring in which it is necessary to remove them from the floor, which cannot be done by means of the hook without spoiling them.

The throat or hollow, c, serves not only to give more surface to the hook, and thus enhance its value, as previously explained, but it serves another important purposenamely, that of obviating the tendency of the hook to turn around from the side-pulling of the carpet, which, if it occurs, renders it useless at once. This hollow brings the bearing of the carpet at about the center or axis of the shank, a, by which the straining of the carpet in whatever direction it may occur, can have no effect to twist the hook around. The hollow also enables them to be used with less injury to the carpet, inasmuch as it reduces the bearing part to about an equal size with that of the hook, and therefore makes a much smaller hole than when the width of the metal at this point is relied upon to prevent its turning.

The back part of the hook is not made angular, but rounded, to enable the carpet to be more easily slipped on and off, and also to prevent doing injury to the feet if theyy are trodden upon. From the small elevation which they have above the floor they are not unpleasant or unsafe to tread upon, and may be used at the thresholds of doors, and in all parts of the room with impunity. This is not true of those hooks or tacks which present an elevated, or sloping point to catch the carpet over.

These hooks by clenching and holding the carpet firmly to t-he floor, never allow it t0 unloose or become detached of itself which is the case with those in use of the description above mentioned, as they hold the carpet only while it is strained, and if it be- Y therefore do not increase the expense of manufacture.

Ve are aware that nails and tacks having hooked points7 or parts formed to catch the carpet over, have been made of triangular and various other shapes, and this We do not claim; but

We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- An improved carpet hook consisting of the barbed shank, a, gage notch, d,'throat, o, and rectangular clenching hook, b; all constructed and combined substantially in the manner and for lthe purposes herein shown and described.

M. D. SNYDER. S. A. SNYDER. Witnesses:

Y A. lFAT'rERsoN,v Gr. RICHARDS. 

